WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Barack Obama all but erased Hillary Rodham Clinton's once-imposing lead among national convention superdelegates on Friday and won fresh labor backing as elements of the Democratic Party began coalescing around the Illinois senator for the fall campaign.

Obama picked up the backing of nine superdelegates, including Rep. Donald Payne of New Jersey, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who had been a Clinton supporter.

In addition, the American Federation of Government Employees announced its support for Obama. The union claims about 600,000 members who work in the federal and Washington, D.C., governments.

Obama, who won a convincing victory in the North Carolina primary and lost Indiana narrowly on Tuesday, has been steadily gaining strength in the days since.

Clinton also gained a superdelegate.

The developments left the former first lady with 271.5 superdelegates, to 271 for Obama. Little more than four months ago, on the eve of the primary season, she held a lead of 169-63.

Superdelegates are party leaders who attend the convention delegates by virtue of their positions, and are not selected in primaries and caucuses.

In an interview with National Public Radio, former candidate John Edwards said Clinton has made a compelling case for her candidacy, but "I think it's very hard for her now to make a compelling case for the math. I mean, I think that's the reality of what she's faced with. She knows that. ... It's just very hard to see how the math works."

In addition to Payne, Reps. Peter DeFazio of Oregon and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, two members of the Democratic National Committee from California and a party official in South Carolina announced they were supporting Obama. Superdelegates from New Mexico and Virginia also joined the migration.

So, too, John Gage, president of the AFGE and a Maryland superdelegate.

"Our people, I think, recognize the enthusiasm and vitality behind Senator Obama's campaign," he said in a statement.

"The election is over, everybody knows that. Obama has won," said Vernon Watkins, one of the two Californians.

"After careful consideration, I have reached the conclusion that Barack Obama can best bring about the change that our country so desperately wants and needs," said Payne, who in a statement said that Clinton is a good friend and he still holds her in high regard.

Payne is one of at least 10 superdelegates who have switched allegiances from Clinton to Obama. None have publicly switched the other way.

In the overall race for the nomination, Obama leads with 1,859.5 delegates, to 1,697 for Clinton. Obama is just 165.5 delegates short of the 2,025 delegates needed to win it.

Clinton's new supporter was Rep. Chris Carney, D-Pa. His congressional district voted overwhelmingly for the former first lady in the Pennsylvania primary on April 22.

Both Obama and Clinton have courted superdelegates in recent days in private meetings at party headquarters not far from the Capitol.

Despite Watkins' assessment, Clinton has shown no signs she is ready to quit the race. She is heavily favored to win Tuesday's primary in West Virginia, and is in the midst of a two-day swing through several other states with upcoming elections.

---

Associated Press Writers Jesse Holland and Matthew Daly in Washington and Solvej Schou in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Comments from Examiner Readers

7:37 AM MST on Mon., May. 12, 2008 re: "Obama overtakes lead in superdelegates for first time"

Examiner Reader said:
Dear Southern Girl...You are right, people are uniting but not to elect someone who talks the talk but has never walked the talk. The change we want is for each candidate to stop the B.S. and actually start doing something about excessive taxes, out of control gas and food prices and spending that never ceases. Cut the crap and actually solve our problems, Obama, Clinton, McCain-whoever has the guts to actually make a decision the helps US!

Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

8:44 PM MST on Sat., May. 10, 2008 re: "Obama overtakes lead in superdelegates for first time"

Examiner Reader said:
I hope Obama does not make Hillary Clinton his running mate. I think they would see to it that he would have a short lived presidency. And if he was to survive she would be undermining him for the Bush' and the Republican Party at every turn. He must pick someone who is not only loyal to him (obama) but someone who is loyal to the cause. Maybe Robert Reish? Former Ecconomic Secretary, Or John Edwards? What do you think? Mike S

3 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

8:41 PM MST on Sat., May. 10, 2008 re: "Obama overtakes lead in superdelegates for first time"

Examiner Reader said:
Senator Clinton is not a quitter and neither are the people that support her. I will never, never, never support or vote for Obama, not because he is a White African (I am a 59 Year Old, Black, Female, Professional Business Owner, with a Master's Degree), but because he is a person who I believe lacks commitment, back bone, and moral character. Obama has proven to be the biggest "flip-flopping" coward in our party. If Obama does turn out to be the Democratic nominee, I will become an Independent and "write in" Senator Clinton's name for President. I don't have to vote for McCain, but again and with all certainty, I will never vote for Obama and I am not alone!

1 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

7:33 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 3, 2008 re: "Obama Gets Boost; Clinton Urged to Quit"

Southern Girl said:
I am glad to hear the good news! People are uniting all over America to make history. For years minorities have been fighting for the struggle. To see to minorities running for office in the top 3 is amazing! Having grown up in the deep south you don't get to see much change and if Hillary win or Obama no matter what they have made HISTORY. They both represent change. I support OBAMA because I believe he is the best person for the job and who i feel more confortable trusting. I feel a younger person will bring energy and new ideas and fresh taste not to mention a sharp mind! They say he doesn't have enough experience, George Bush Jr. proves that all the experience in the world couldn't help him.(his dad was in office two terms and he didn't learn a thing).......so that goes to show that you can't count on experience. We need somone in office who listens to the people and can unify the US with other countries and negotiate deals. That's what we will need to get us out of this mess

1 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

11:48 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 2, 2008 re: "To back Obama, Oregon lawmaker is back as Democrat"

Examiner Reader said:
Thank you Sen Gordly for rejoining the democratic party just so you can support Obama; do us all a favor and stay there. Your opinion really isn't that important to most voters.

0 agree | 2 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

10:06 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 2, 2008 re: "Wyoming Governor Back Obama"

Examiner Reader said:
looks like the clintons dont have pull no more over the old school boys........time for hill to lay the boxing gloves to rest!

0 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

6:25 PM MST on Sun., Mar. 30, 2008 re: "Pa. Sen. Bob Casey Endorses Obama"

Examiner Reader said:
Sen. Bob Casey holds hands very well with pro-abortion democrats. The problem with that is he wraps his Catholic faith around himself to get the Catholic vote. I would have respected him more if he had kept a low-profile and avoided endorsing pro-abortion candidates while claiming to be a Catholic in good standing.

2 agree | 2 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

6:20 PM MST on Sun., Mar. 30, 2008 re: "Pa. Sen. Bob Casey Endorses Obama"

Examiner Reader said:
Former Governor Casey was a strong Catholic voice against abortion. I remember when the Democrats would not let him speak at their convention because of that. His son, believe me, has not shown the same pro-life sentiments. I would be interested in hearing Bishop Martino's opinion of Casey junior's Catholicism.

3 agree | 0 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

5:41 PM MST on Sun., Mar. 30, 2008 re: "Pa. Sen. Bob Casey Endorses Obama"

rita bubernak said:
Thanks for not allowing your Scranton friends the opportunity to set up the endorsement for Hillary. You certainly did mot stand behind what the people from your own hometown preferred. What a slap in the face for your hometown constituents! I noticed your list it is all the people from the Phila.,Pittsburgh area.You tried to satify them and neglected the people that got you to the Senate. We will all remember that when you decide to run again. None of my Family and friends will ever stand behind you again .I don't think your Dad would ever do as you did. That was not a very nice move,You would have been better off not to endorse anyone than to endorse an anti American.

2 agree | 0 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

5:46 AM MST on Sat., Mar. 29, 2008 re: "Obama Gets Boost; Clinton Urged to Quit"

Examiner Reader said:
Boy, the Clintons sure have ticked the 'good old boys ' of the democartic party off. With loyal "friends" like Casey, Richardson, Leahy, Kerry, Kennedy et al joining the Hollywood groupies and "main stream media" to support a virtual unknown, untested back bench senator only one year ago is amazing. Imagine how "loyal" and dedicated they are to you and me as they continue to represent America. Should scare the hell out of all of us but then again we all have learned the hard way that you can buy anything and anybody in America.

1 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

8:14 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 28, 2008 re: "Obama Gets Boost; Clinton Urged to Quit"

Examiner Reader said:
I'd love to see Hillary bow out, because it would mean a landslide victory for McCain when everyone can see that Obama calls for "change" with no concrete plans or policies! People used to buy a lot of snake oil too based on "change"

Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

3:39 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 28, 2008 re: "Obama Gets Boost; Clinton Urged to Quit"

Native Baltimorean said:
excellent article

1 agree | 0 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

2:17 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 28, 2008 re: "Obama Gets Boost; Clinton Urged to Quit"

MD 4 Clinton said:
Hillary will NEVER quit! With her big brain, razor sharp teeth and power-packed thighs, Hillary is the most formidable candidate. She MUST get the nomination!

1 agree | 0 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

1:10 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 28, 2008 re: "Obama Gets Boost; Clinton Urged to Quit"

Examiner Reader said:
She is just a sore loser who does not know when it's time to quit.

2 agree | 0 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

11:35 AM MST on Thu., Feb. 28, 2008 re: "Lewis Switches Support to Obama"

Examiner Reader said:
Given that this is Hillary's only realistic shot at the White House, something that has been her ultimate objective for years, don't you think that she and Bill are going to make the Democratic Party pay for tossing her overboard? For someone who came from nowhere in Arkansas to the White House, the Clintons have connections.

46 agree | 42 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

5:31 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 27, 2008 re: "Bill Clinton Campaign Chief Backs Obama"

West Coast Disgusted said:
Americans are being taken to the cleaners with this election. Hillary, Obama and McCain have been up to their eyeballs supporting illegal immigration policies. These three candidates are very wealthy globalists at heart who have absolutely nothing in common with working people. Meanwhile, the media, which is in the pocket of media globalists like Murdock, is running your neighbors first in one direction then the other & they're falling for it. In a nutshell: Hillary invested $1,000 &, it's a matter of record, made $100,000; Obama is a first term senator who attends a racist church (Go to its website) and whose mansion was recently financed by an indicted crook; McCain was one of the Keating scandal boys. Folks, smell the coffee. We don't have a choice!

40 agree | 43 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

2:33 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 27, 2008 re: "Lewis Switches to Obama"

Examiner Reader said:
Boy, these Democrats sure have trouble keeping a commitment to one of their own who served them well over the years. But then again, Hill is not one of their own is she? Race trumps loyalty every time!

43 agree | 41 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

12:05 PM MST on Thu., Feb. 14, 2008 re: "Former GOP Senator Endorses Obama"

Examiner Reader said:
Chafee was never a Republican, he was a pretend Republican who voted with the Democrats more often than his party. He is certainly no King maker like Oprah that's for sure.

51 agree | 40 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

2:29 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 13, 2008 re: "Bill Clinton Campaign Chief Backs Obama"

MJM said:
Curious posting from Examiner Reader of 9:45am. It seems that when the "mainstream news media" attacks Bush, as they have done relentlessly since his first term, it's perfectly acceptable and in fact, encouraged by those on the left. My, but it's a far different story, isn't it, when the Liberal controlled media critisizes one of it's own. Especially when it's Princess Hillary. Conservative controlled media moguls? Hah! Try convincing those at ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, CNBC and every major newspaper in the country that they are run by Conservative moguls. Face it. Clinton's a criminal abetting loser. That's easier than dreaming of a Conservative controlled mainstream news media.

61 agree | 41 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

12:14 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 13, 2008 re: "Bill Clinton Campaign Chief Backs Obama"

The bus said:
Who would know better about the clintons??

56 agree | 52 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

1:03 PM MST on Thu., Jan. 31, 2008 re: "NY Post Endorses Obama"

Examiner Reader said:
Unfortunately, the Post has the correct slant on the Clintons - Bill who spoke about the inaccuracies in Obama's statements - lest we forget that Clinton was only the second president to be impeached in the history of our Nation. He was impeaced for lying to the justice department (under oath) and obstructing justice. He turned the White House into his own private sex abode, he and Hillary were involved in the White Water mess - still simmering - he lost his license to practice law for 5 years in Arkansas as a negotiated deal with the justice department so they would not file criminal charges against him when he got out of office. His and Hillary's repport with congress were abhorent. Why on earth would we want that again. If "Billary" is the party's nominee I will vote Republican for the first time.

57 agree | 53 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

5:45 AM MST on Thu., Jan. 31, 2008 re: "NY Post Endorses Obama"

Examiner Reader said:
How wearisome this cheap and cowardly media attack on Hillary, has become. Hillary will either win or she won't. I feel such a sense of relief, that I won't have to listen to the insuffferable lies and distortions, media gasbags are directing against her. Hillary is not in a contest with Obama, for the nomination; she's in a constest with media, nearly the whole of which, have turned against her, in the most blatant example of yellow jornalism ever seen. If she had received any semblance of balance in media reporting about her, she would have dispatched Obama easily. What has been done to Hillary by these contemptuous fools in media, is a scandal, and is further evidence of how conservative are the media moguls that determine what happens in their news deaprtments, when their obsequious news prima donnas viciously attack her, on behalf of the conservatives.

64 agree | 66 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

10:45 AM MST on Sat., Jan. 12, 2008 re: "Nebraska Sen. Nelson Endorses Obama"

Muckle John said:
Ya-a-awn Another endorsement for a politician, from a politician.

On that subject: Among the generous financial donors to the Oprahma campign is Jared Abbruzzese -- a New York businessman now at the center of an F.B.I. inquiry into public corruption in Albany. Abbruzzese had also contributed to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a group that sought to undermine John Kerry�s Democratic presidential campaign in 2004.

So Lurch is a bigger chump than I'd previously thought!

68 agree | 83 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

12:14 AM MST on Sat., Jan. 12, 2008 re: "Obama tells Nevada union members he will help working-class families"

Examiner Reader said:
I think O'Bama is crooked. Didn't Obama invest $50,000 in a biotech company that he passed legislation to benefit and then purchase $5000 shares of stock in the company after the legislation passed? And, wasn't the company owned by some of his chieh financial backers. Hows about an article following this up!

77 agree | 76 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

12:07 AM MST on Sat., Jan. 12, 2008 re: "Obama Vows to Help Struggling Homeowners"

Examiner Reader said:
Has there been any further investigation into the shady real estate deal Obama was involved in with one of his campaign financeers, convicted felon, Antoin Rezco, last year?

86 agree | 71 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

8:59 PM MST on Fri., Jan. 11, 2008 re: "Arizona Gov. Napolitano to Endorse Obama"

Examiner Reader said:
Napolitano is an out of touch, extreme liberal whose mishandling of the illegal immigration fiasco in Arizona is a disgrace to hard-working Americans.

73 agree | 71 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

8:13 PM MST on Fri., Jan. 11, 2008 re: "Obama Promises Relief to Homeowners"

Muckle John said:
Has anybody ever voted for a candidate based on the endorsement of another politician? Or of a celebrity? Or of a newspaper? I seriously doubt it. The spin that Kathleen Hennesy puts on the story is hilarious!... "bolstered by endorsements" Yeah, right.

Equally hilarious is upper middle class Oprahma's fairy tale about holes in his shoes, holes in his car, holes in his apartment. The man is a shameless liar. That's not news to anybody from Illinois, though.

74 agree | 90 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

6:49 PM MST on Fri., Jan. 11, 2008 re: "Arizona Gov. Napolitano to Endorse Obama"

McDonald Berger - King said:
Gov. Napolitano should switch parties. Aren't Arizona citizens tired of being swamped by illegals? Anyway, Hillary's croc tears gained her the NH victory. Do you really think we can put up with her games during this season? She's 100% PHONY and will do anything to get in the White House. She must not be coronated! I won't vote for Obama, but he is more preferable to Hillary's screeching! This election cycle wil be wild!

68 agree | 67 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

4:55 PM MST on Fri., Jan. 11, 2008 re: "Arizona Gov. Napolitano to Endorse Obama"

Examiner Reader said:
Nappy gave Oprahma her endorsement out of jealousy... Clintons got that 'assistant' living with her and Nappy can't deal with the rejection.

74 agree | 57 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

7:07 PM MST on Fri., Oct. 26, 2007 re: "Obama Endorsed by Columbus Mayor"

Examiner Reader said:
A black mayor endorsed Obama? Wow, what a shocker!

113 agree | 103 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate